11
An Impossible List
The most impossible task can be made possible with the help of a friend~ Loki
Rhiannon looked at the partially finished dress and sighed, there was still so much for her to do and she trembled with exhaustion. The list was still very long, and there was only one day left. She had not even finished cutting the pieces to pin them together. She sighed, closing the door and walked back to the infirmary, so tired that her eyelids keep drooping.
She began scrubbing the floor, kneeling and leaned against a pillar, her eyes closing and she fell asleep. A loud crack followed by a stinging on her back woke her and she cried out in pain. Malius stands over her, his strap in his hand.
"Lazy girl! I should beat you worse! Falling asleep at your duties!" Malius shouted at her, waving the strap inches from her nose. She ducked, holding her hands over her head and shook.
"I am sorry Sir, it will not happen again." She whimpered and went back to scrubbing the floor.
"Fall asleep again, and you will be very sorry, you lazy wretch." Malius warned, Rhee trembling as she scrubbed at the floor. Every inch was soon gleaming and she moved on to the next task, her sad lunch of stale bread and a cut of cheese arriving. She wrapped them both in a handkerchief, tucking them into her pocket and sighing. The list was no shorter, and she feared that she will have to write a letter rejecting Loki's invitation to the ball.
She began the next task, wanting nothing more than to finish her list magically and be back working on her dress. But there was still so much to be done, and so little time left.
Lunch came, and she was starving. She left the infirmary and walked to a quiet place in the garden, she sat alone and ate the cheese. She remembered the date suddenly, the day her mother died protecting her from a vrekat attack and wept into her hands.
Loki's bedchamber
Loki stood stone still while the tailor adjusted the waistcoat and Loki looked into the full length mirror. The waistcoat was a soft velvet with gold buttons on the cuffs and down the front and gold trim around the cuffs and the bottom of the waistcoat.
"You look amazing, My Prince," the tailor said.
"I guess," Loki said. He hated the idea of wearing something which costs more than the tailor made in a year and would have just worn one of his dark suits.
"Is there something wrong with it?" he asked with fear in his voice. He knew disobeying a royal or a noble could be the end of his career, or his life, and Loki saw the fear in his eyes.
"No, there's nothing wrong," he said in an reassuring voice and the tailor nodded.
He looked out the window, hearing a small sound from the garden and looked at himself in the mirror again.
"It is very fitting, I will change and ensure you are paid well for these clothes."
"Thank you, My Prince," the tailor said with a smile. "I wager you will need guards at the ball.
The ladies of the court will be flocking all over you."
"Or they will run away once they learn I have so many children," Loki said with a smile.
"There is nothing wrong with having a large family. I, myself, come from a family of ten."
"You are quite wealthy then." The small noise comes in again and the Tailor checked to see what it was.
"A girl is crying out there, I will have the guards remove her." The tailor offerd, opening his hands for the coat.
"Really?!"
"Yes," he said with a nod. "My family have served the palace for generations."
"For...generations," Loki thought.
"Do you have any memories of my grandfather?"
"Uh... Yes, I do, but it is not something we talk of."
"Why?"
"He was a...difficult man. My grandfather often spoke in whispers about how he ruled with an iron fist. Once your father became the AllFather, things were different."
Loki removed the waistcoat with a nod when he handed the waistcoat to the tailor then ran to the door. He opened the door when he saw Rhiannon sitting on the floor and ran to her.
She looked up, fear crossing her face and backed away. The last of her meal tumbling off her lap to the floor. "I am so sorry, sir. I will not disturb you, please don't have me beaten."
Loki knelt down when he picked up the remains of her last meal and sat next to her.
"You should know by now that I would never raise a hand against anyone," Loki said.
"I am sorry again then. I meant not to insult you. May I have my lunch back?"
Loki handed the food to her when she placed the food in her pocket and he looked at her.
"Now, tell me. Why were you crying?"
Rhiannon looked deeply into his green eyes when she sighed and lowered her head.
She sniffed, curling a frayed edge of her apron around her finger. "I do not know where to start, sir."
"Take your time," he said with soft eyes.
"Today... Today is the day my mother died," she said.
"How did she die?"
"She was protecting me from the beast. I was playing as we enjoyed a picnic together, and it stalked me. She saw it and fought the beast, but I was still hurt... and she died." She hid her face in her hands, crying again.
Loki placed his hand on her shoulder and waited for her to stop crying.
"Is...? Is that where the scar on your cheek came from?" he asked and she nodded.
"I was always called a freak or a monster. That no man would ever want me," she said, wiping her cheeks with her hand. He made a white handkerchief appear when he handed it to her and she nodded.
She wiped her eyes then blew her nose and was surprised when he slid his arm around her shoulders.
"What else?" Loki asked.
She took the list out of her pocket, handing it to him.
"I cannot accept your invitation to the ball. I am very sorry, but my chores are not done, and all I have is this dress."
He looked at the list and the poor sketch of the dress as anger and rage moved through him and she backed away.
"I am sorry," she said, getting up. He stood when he took her hand and she noticed how his hand fit perfectly over hers.
"No, you are still going to the ball," Loki said with a small growl.
"How?!"
She shook in fear, recognizing the look and her fingers gripped at the stone of the castle. She knew when a noble was mad, she would be getting a lash.
"Sir. I have no gown or clothes save what is on my back. And I have much left to do."
She pulled away from him, as much as her heart pounded to feel his embrace, she had to get back to her work.
"I should get back Sir. I should not have disturbed you."
"Wait!" he said, but she ran off.
She ran back toward the infirmary, her worn shoe heel breaking and making her tumble over, she rolled down a small hill and came to rest near a fountain. Her backside aching from the fall and she laid in the grass crying again.
"Spite!" She cursed, taking the broken shoe off her foot and throwing it. "Why does fate hate me so?"
She rested her head against the fountain, lifting her skirts to her knee and seeing it oozing blood slowly. Her dress is torn at the elbow, and some boning has snapped in her corset. She hung her head, trying not to cry more, but it does no good. She looked back up the hill and saw birds eating her lunch.
"No! That is all I get for the rest of the day! Shoo!"
She chased away the birds as they squawked and she picked up the remains.
Loki's chambers
Loki turned on his heels when he headed back into his chambers and the tailor looked at him. Loki stormed over to him as the tailor backed away and Loki frowned.
"How quickly can you make a gown!?" he asked.
"Is this for one of your daughters?" the tailor asked.
"No! It is for my escort," he said as he looked at the list and sketch. "It needs to look like this."
The tailor took the sketch as he looked at the dress and saw the measurements.
"I can do it immediately," he said with a nod.
"Then you better get going," he said and the tailor nodded. "Bring the gown here once it is done."
"Yes, My Prince," he said with a bow and the tailor left the room.
Sighing, Rhee reached into her pocket when she realized she had forgotten the list and the sketch and more tears rolled down her cheeks.
Getting up, she headed down the path, her knee throbbing.
She limped along the path searching for it and worried, the list on her mind. Picking up her ruined shoe and not finding it, she sat next to the fountain using some of the water to wash her knee. She poured the water over it, peeling back her wool stocking and hissing at the pain.
"I will need medicine for this later." She sighed, tearing a bit of her petticoat to bind the wound.
Her tears fell freely now, because she knew that she will be beaten for losing the list and she turned the old shoe over in her hands. Shoes cost money, as do dresses, and she now had neither.
She did not see Loki walking toward the infirmary, her head low and she bruised from her fall. He saw her however, crying and alone near the fountain.
He saw the broken shoe in her hand and she took the remains of her food out of her pocket, she saw how badly the birds have pecked at it and she cast it aside, the hard and stale bread clattering loudly. "Nothing for me again. Am I truly this cursed?"
"Healer Lyr!" She heard her name shouted at her and she sees Malius rounding a hedge and walking toward her. She stood in fear, bowing her head and shaking as he waved his strap at her. "Get back to your duties, girl!"
He brought the strap across her back twice and she yelped with the pain, he raised it again and this time it wrapped around her waist and she nearly screamed.
"Please Sir! No more, I lost my list of duties and need a new one." She cried out, and he raged at her.
"A lost duty list earns you thirty lashes! You know this rule." Malius shouted at her and he brought the lash painfully across her back again. She screamed, fighting the urge to run and took the next blow that came.
Malius reached back to strike her again, her breath becoming shaky when a hand closed around his wrist and another tore the lash from his hand.
"I am sorry, sir. Please no more." She begged and the blow never came, she looked up to see Loki glaring at the man in anger and she grabbed her fallen shoe and backed away from the two men. She clutched the shoe to her chest, praying that she would not earn any more lashes.
Loki picked up the other man by the collar and lifted him off the ground. "I thought I made it very clear last time we spoke that you were to stop beating your Healers!" Loki spat. "Perhaps you weren't listening?"
Malius' eyes almost bugged out from his head. "I . . . I . . . P-Prince Loki . . .!"
Loki shook the other man like a terrier shakes a rat. "If . . . you . . . ever . . .hit . . . Rhiannon . . . or . . . any .. . other . . .. common . . . Healer again . . ." He punctuated each word with a shake. "I will take this damn whip and I will use it on YOU and then I will shove it up your ass! AM I CLEAR?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" Malius whimpered, practically wetting himself in terror.
Rhiannon watched them, cradling her shoe like a kitten. She shook and slid to the ground along the wall and tried to stay small and quiet. Malius glared at her when Loki let him go, telling her that she just breathed her last breath.
"One other thing. Nobody tells MY escort that she cannot attend MY welcome ball. She will be going, tomorrow night, I will have a carriage sent around, and the only thing you will be doing is watching her leave. Do anything to her, or have someone else do anything, and I will come back here and turn you into a goat! Understand?"
"Yes My Prince." He replied, bowing his head and glaring back at the wounded girl.
"Watch yourself, my Lord. Because I have a cell all picked out for you. And the rats would welcome your company. Remember what happened the last time a noble thought they could harm someone I care about? Yes? Good! Keep remembering it! Because I will know everything you do." Loki sneered. "I know what you eat for breakfast and when you go to sleep-and with whom! So don't cross me, Malius. Or you will regret it!"
He set the other man down. "Leave. Now. Before I change my mind and put you out to pasture!"
Malius left, hurrying away without his strap. Loki glared at the vile thing in his hand, Rhiannon shaking and trying to push through the wall behind her.
"I am sorry Sir, please no more." She dropped to her knees and hissed in pain from the scraped one.
Loki snapped the whip in half and then made it vanish. He sighed. Then he looked over at the scared Healer and said in a reassuring tone, "Sorry if I scared you. But I needed to put the fear of Hel into that bastard so he leaves you alone when I am gone and so does anyone who is under him."
She hugged her shoe tighter, not knowing what to say. "I lost my duty list, the punishment is thirty lashes."
Loki's eyebrows rose into his hair. "For losing a piece of PAPER? Forgive me, but that is utterly insane! Besides, you didn't lose it-I have it here." He pulled it from his pocket. "Please, let me heal you. It will take barely two minutes."
She fell forward into the grass, shaking and trying not to make a sound. She reached up for the page in his hand and he sees how much they have forced upon her, anger creeping into his thoughts. He smelled the blood on her knee and saw the tear in the thin woolen dress.
"I will be fine sir, I should go back to my duties."
He kneeled beside her. "Don't be afraid. I only want to help you." He used the same tone he did when he had first adopted Max, who hid under the bed whenever he was frightened for three months. Loki had spent hours sitting on the floor beside the bed just talking to the terrified boy and telling him no one would ever hit him for any reason.
"I told you before that I have no dress for the ball, I only have one shoe now. I cannot go, sir." She wept, showing him the well-worn shoe that may have been new at one time. The sole worn through and folded paper used to block the hole. The heel broken nearly through, and her tears flowing freely.
"I am so sorry, I cannot because it is not my place, sir." She backed away from him, shaking still.
"Don't go. I have my tailor making you dress for the ball. And look-" he gestured and her worn shoes are suddenly brand new. "New shoes!" He smiled at her, and the smile made her heart flutter and made her feel safe all at once.
He held out his hand. "Let me heal you. I . . .I know what being whipped feels like, and you did not deserve it."
She nodded, wanting to hug him but dares not. "If it pleases you, sir."
"It does," he murmured and took her hand in his. "This won't hurt." He lowered his head in concentration and a golden glow spread from his hand all through her, mending what was injured. It did not hurt, instead it felt soothing and filled her with light.
"Thank you, sir. I am much healed." She replied, smiling at him. She climbed to her feet and the dress tore worse, making her sigh in annoyance. "I will mend that later."
He waved a hand. "There! All fixed. I can't have you walking around like that. People might think I tore your clothes off or something."
"That would be rather bad, I suppose we cannot have that happening." She replied. Two noblewomen walked by, one of them shocked that a Commoner would be seen holding hands with a Prince. Rhiannon took her hand away, looking shy and scared again.
"What are you afraid of? I won't bite," he teased.
"The laws forbid me touching a noble, I am a commoner if you forget. Sir."
"I didn't forget. I am simply allowing you to hold my hand. And if anyone has a problem they can speak to me about it."
I have to get Father to change these stupid laws! he thought furiously. But first I need to figure out what revenant is possessing him. Though I believe I know. It is my grandfather.
"I don't want to cause you any troubles, Sir." She replied, her heart pounding at the fact she was talking to him.
"Don't you know? Trouble is my little brother." His eyes twinkled. Suddenly he had an idea to take her mind off her fear and sorrow. "Have you ever heard of the Caped Crusader?"
"No Sir." She said and laughed a bit.
"Let me introduce you," Loki pulled his hood over his head and made it have two pointed small ears on top. He caused the front to become a mask with eyeholes and then he grabbed his cape and ran and jumped on top of the ledge that went around the fountain. "I'm Batman!" he said in a rather deep voice.
Then he ran around the fountain with his cape fluttering like wings.
She laughed, the sound like music and covered her mouth.
Suddenly they heard a woman screaming. "Stop thief! Norns! I've been robbed!"
"We have to get the Guards!" Rhiannon shouted, starting to run.
Loki leaped off the fountain and ran after the small figure fleeing with the woman's purse. Being so tall, he quickly caught up to the fleeing thief, who he saw was only a child, a scrawny ragged child who obviously has taken the purse because he was starving.
He caught the boy by the collar and said, "I'll take that. You shouldn't be stealing, boy."
The youngster gasped. "Please, sir! Don't cut off my hand! I was just so hungry!"
"Hey. No one is going to cut off your hand," Loki soothed the tearful boy. "Just don't go snatching anymore purses."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Batman," Loki answered.
"Please. Don't hurt him. He is starving." Rhiannon begged, running up to Loki.
He reached into a pocket and gave the child ten silvers. "Take this, go get yourself a decent meal, then come back to the palace tomorrow and speak to the Steward. Tell him Prince Loki told you to come here and to give you work."
"Yes Sir." The boy replied, Rhiannon watching quietly.
"Go on, go get some dinner," Loki urged, ruffling the boy's hair.
The boy nodded and scampered off. Loki looked at Rhiannon. "Let me give this purse back to its owner." He found the woman at the edge of a crowd of people going in and out of the palace. "Here you go, my lady. I believe this is yours."
She smiled broadly, resting a hand on his arm. "Thank you My Prince, you are most kind."
"You are welcome. Might I suggest next time you go shopping you put your purse in a pocket inside your cloak or skirt? That way sticky fingers can't find it." Loki smiled.
"Thank you for your advice, My Prince," the woman said. "I shall do so right away." She gave him a curtsy and walked off.
Rhiannon watched from afar, smiling and blinking at him.
"You were good to that boy. Thank you."
Loki jogged back to her and jumped up on the fountain again, swirling his cape and grinning at her.
She laughed, sitting on the edge and smiling at him.
He landed in the water with a splash, thinking, Well, Laufeyson, now you look like the world's biggest idiot! See what happens when you try and impress a woman?
Rhiannon splashed into the fountain, worry on her face. "My Prince! Are you hurt?
She stood in the water up to her hips, worry on her face as she helped him up.
"No. I'm fine. Just wet. I make a career out of falling into fountains," he said, laughing at himself.
"Please don't, it would make an awful living."
"You're right. I'll leave that to the fish." He jumped out of the fountain and helped her out. "I must look like something my cat dragged in," he said ruefully.
"Somewhat. I must look worse." She wrings her skirts out, twisting the fabric.
"It's a good thing I know a little magic," he chuckled. Then he gestured and both of their clothes were dry.
"That is clever. Thank you." She smiled, clapping her hands.
Loki felt warmth rush through him. "Here. I couldn't help but notice that the birds ate your . . . lunch. So eat this instead." He pulled out a thick ham and cheese sandwich on soft white bread from his pocket. It was wrapped in waxed paper.
She looked at it in shock, amazed that he would be so kind.
"I will have to save some for my supper. That was my daily rations."
Loki was appalled. "You mean that is all you get to eat all DAY?"
"I am not given more unless I buy it, and food is expensive. Malius deemed so because I am..." She got quiet, keeping her secret.
"That is just . . . no one should be treated like this." He shook his head. Then he gestured and a paper sack appeared in his hand. 'Here is another sandwich, a piece of fruit, and some chips. Eat that for dinner."
Tears filled her eyes, and she reached into her pocket and removed two copper coins. "Let me pay you for this. It is not much, but all I have left."
He closed her hand over the money. "No. I insist. It is the least I can do because I was the one who made you drop your lunch."
"I will get another copper coin as my wages tomorrow. It is no worry."
"Is that all they pay you, an accredited Healer? That's . . . Norns I cannot believe what has gone on here in my absence. It's nothing like the Asgard I grew up in." Loki muttered.
"Have I upset you?" She asked him, her hand hovering over his in a practice that came from years of warnings.
"No. Not you. The way that certain people are treated here upsets me," he told her.
"I must take whatever wages I am offered, what I am keeps me from making more."
Loki frowned. "What you are? You mean a woman? Or a commoner? Or both?
She looked down, afraid to answer.
He sighed. "You don't need to answer. It's probably both. That's just wrong. Everyone deserves a fair wage. Especially a skilled professional like you."
"I am just what I am, I cannot argue for better." She replied, suddenly scared and repeating what she had heard over and over again.
"That's what they tell you to keep you from protesting. But if you cannot say anything, I certainly can," he said determinedly.
"Please don't. It will only make things worse for me." She begged him, another Healer approaching with a letter for Rhiannon. She handed it to her without a word and walked away. Rhiannon opened it, shaking and nearly crying.
"I must leave the castle." She nearly whispered.
"Who says?" Loki demanded.
"I have been dismissed from my position. My room and board is forefeit." She showed him the letter, citing her dereliction to her duties and she shivered.
Loki ground his teeth together. "I warned that little toad. I warned him! Now he pays the price!" He took the letter and stalked into the infirmary, ready to throw Malius out of the castle on his backside.
"No Sir! Please!" She follows him, begging him not to be cruel.
"After what that bastard has done to you, you wish me to show him mercy? He has none for you or anyone else he bullies. He deserves time in prison for what he has done."
"I am half Jotun! There is no mercy for someone like me." She said, nearly bursting into tears. She wanted to run, fearing reprisal for her outburst. "If I cause trouble, I face imprisonment."
"It was the terms of my being allowed to be free here. I cannot fight being dismissed now."
Loki swung about to face her. "You are a half-blood like me? Well, that is no matter. You did not cause trouble, he brought this on himself. For disobeying me. I out rank the little bastard and as he is so fond of reminding you, you don't disobey those above you."
"You don't think I am a monster?" She asked him, shaking still.
"No. I am like you. And I am no monster. My sons are a quarter Jotun. They are not monsters either. And it is unjust to treat you this way because of it. It will change. I will make it so," Loki told her softly. "As for Malius, he disobeyed me, his prince. And like the other nobles who harmed my son, that has consequences. I was nice before. I let him off with a warning. But he ignored me, believing he was above following my injunctions. I intend to remedy that."
"King Odin will have me imprisoned." She replied, looking at her feet.
"He will not. Because this order is going to disappear. And Malius is not going to be able to write anything else like that." Loki said grimly. "Because he will be spending two days in the dungeon for disobeying me."
She trembled in fear, looking back down at the floor. " I am sanctioned. My birth was ruled a crime after your mishap."
She blinked back tears, looking at him.
"After what? That is totally insane! I will speak with my father about this. In any case, like I said, YOU are not the problem here. I gave him instructions to leave you alone and he ignored them. That is punishable in various ways. I could do something very terrible to him. But I will only lock him up for now."
She stood quietly, looking at her feet.
"Stay here. I will be back in a moment."
"Yes, sir." She said and gave him a polite curtsey.
Loki stalked into Malius' office, Power shimmering about him. It seemed that the stupid noble needed to learn the lesson that once everyone in Asgard used to know-that you did not cross Loki Laufeyson.
A/N: So what do you think Loki will do? Or should he do?
Thanks to certain friends who helped me write this chapter!